To the Top 12 - Don't Call It A Comeback Edition

“Don’t call it a comeback…”

First of all, I have indeed missed all of you. I very much enjoyed our exchanges last season, but, alas, I didn’t anticipate having the time to watch this 9th season of “American Idol” consistently – much less properly continue my random thoughts here. That anticipation has proven to be true. I basically saw none of the auditions, very, very little of the Hollywood round, and sporadic performances of the 24-to-12 rounds. Despite that, however, I amazingly have some random thoughts about this season’s shows and some of the competitors. Via the magic of YouTube and catching some of the 24-to-12 rounds on DVR, somehow, I have been able to form some opinions that are, frankly, bubbling over enough that I must share them with my most special AI friends. So, here I go:

Ellen DeGeneres – maybe my expectations were too high. I actually cheered when I found out Paula was not coming back. I cheered further when we learned Ellen was coming on. She’s quick. She’s funny. She’s nice. She represents non-music industry you and me. I got the joke and looked forward to it. What happened? She just really seems uncomfortable doing this, like she’s lost the confidence in herself that she tells the singers they should have. And, why in the world is she commenting about singers having “pitch” problems?!? That’s that music industry catch-all word that nobody outside that world understands (and probably 60% of that world doesn’t know what the #$%* it means either). I am hoping she will find her footing when she gets in the big theater, but right now I am longing for Paula. Well, maybe I shouldn’t go that far.

Kara Dioguardi – Go away. You might recall that I looked forward to her not coming back after her fights with Simon late last season. My feelings haven’t changed. In fact, they have grown as she is now attempting to dominate the judge’s table with Paula gone. It’s close to official now: the show jumped the shark, not with letting Paula go and bringing in Ellen, but when they added Kara as the 4th judge in the first place. Go away.

Randy Jackson – Who cares?

Simon Cowell – Clearly checked out. Nine years of this has worn him down to boredom, and he must be thinking about the U.S. launch of his “X-Factor” this fall. When Simon’s head and heart (he does have one, people) are not in it, it screams, “Why should I care either.”

Now the singers. I hate to be trite and say, like so many others, that “this is the worst group of contestants they’ve ever had”, but it is a little tough to argue the other side. Up front, I don’t like any of the guys right now. Not one bit. Not even “Big Mike” (isn’t everyone already tired of the constant mentioning of that nickname?). Some of comments might be a little unfair because some I have not seen enough, but so be it. Okay, in the order of the singers I would most like to hear/see perform:

1 – Crystal Bowersox. One of the three who inspire me to hang in there to try and watch any of this season at all. Every one of her performances have been steller. She’s super confident but not in an arrogant, inspiring loathing way. And, she looks like she HATES the group songs. You have to love her just for that alone. Then, we have the drama of her health. It seems to me like she could be truly struggling with that. Did anyone notice how she had to sit down while the judges commented after she crushed “Gimme One Reason”. I am obviously hoping for the best, but I am concerned we have not heard the last about this.

2- Siobhan Magnus. Her voice has a quality to it that makes me stop to hear more. And, she’s cute. That quirky kind of cute. I am in marked disagreement with the judges about that high note she hit at the end of “Think” a couple of weeks ago (I thought it sounded REALLY off…Mrs RAD agrees), but I still enjoy her overall.

3- Didi Benami. Nothing special yet for me, but I hate to say this: the storyline regarding her good friend that passed away keeps me interested in her. Thankfully, they are not beating us over the head with the story (like Danny Gokey’s wife), but I still remember. Plus, she’s a cry-er. We are kind of just waiting for the inevitable on-stage meltdown, and that can be fascinating. Shoot me.

Big gap between those three and the rest (for me).

4 – Katie Stevens. She has the voice quality that Siobhan has. But, she has no idea what she is doing. And, why should she? She’s barely 17. I know Alison last season was barely 17 as well, but she had been singing in malls since she was 3 years old. In addition, she (back to Katie) is Disney cute without looking like she hasn’t eaten in three weeks. I want her to do well, but just don’t see it happening.

5- Mike Lynche. Everyone says he sings great, and, for sure, he’s decent. But, you can already see it going to his head, and, I’m sorry, RAD doesn’t like that.

6- Casey James. Kara, get a room! I am pre-disposed not to like this guy, but I actually feel a little bad for him with the way Kara has so openly drooled about him (which is sure to make others hate him). His singing voice means nothing to me. His guitar riffing is nice. Other than that, I don’t care.

Now the comments get really short because I don’t know or I don’t care (yet).

7- Lacey Brown. I’ve heard she can be good. I haven’t seen it.

8- Andrew Garcia. Gotta love the former gang member trying to make a better life story. Otherwise, whatever.

9- Tim Urban. Looks like a frightened puppy every time he performs. Actually funny to watch but not to listen to.

10- Lee Dewyze. Looks a little like David Cook to me. That’s all I’ve got on him.

11- Paige Miles. Who?

12. Aaron Kelly. I’ve heard others are shocked he’s still around.

And, a note on two already departeds:

Katelyn Epperly – if she made the Top 12, she would have been number 2 or 3 on my above list. She crushed me with her “Scientist” performance. She is a little pretty (in that traditional blonde, curly way), she plays the keyboards (that usually gets me), and I like her voice quality (I guess that’s my phrase this year). Oh well. Thanks America.

Lily Scott – never liked her. It was like she was trying to prove how “indie” and different she was every week in the way she dressed and the songs she chose. Any time you have to try so hard to prove you’re different, that’s a problem (for me). And, every song sounded the same to me (unlike Crystal Bowersox).

That’s it for me. The comment section is open now. Do you agree with me on Ellen’s impact (or non-impact)? Am I way off on Kara? Are the singers that I don’t know or don’t care about (yet) any good to you? I’m not sure when or if I will be back, but thank you for letting me share my too voluminous random thoughts.